How to Get A Web Design Contracts
Michalis 'BIG Mike' Kotzakolios
As a web designer one of the most important aspects of your business is preparing appropriate web design contracts. These contracts have to be drafted to protect your investment, the only currency that can not be regained or exchanged: time. Beginning web designers often feel skittish about proposing contracts and asking for deposits.
Web design contracts protect both the web designer and the client as well as provide a clear understanding of duties and ownership of intellectual property. There are a variety of aspects that need to be covered in successful web design contracts.
The first step is to outline all the specific clauses pertinent to your business deal. Include an estimate of the price for the job and terms of payment. Outlining the cost for changes to the agreed upon project will also protect you from having to pour in countless hours of making changes without compensation.
Be sure to include a detailed section on who owns the artwork and preparatory resources. In addition, make sure your customer understands the importance of signed proofs. It is also important to make it clear that the client is responsible for job expenses. Include a cancellation policy to protect your investment of time. If for some reason a customer cancels the project, you should be compensated for the time you have already spent working on it. You should not be liable for problems created by third parties and make this fact clear. Finally, make sure that your client understands that the work you perform is not guaranteed to increase sales and bring in new business. One of the most important clauses is the indemnity agreement. If for some reason the finished work is connected to a legal situation, you should be completely free and clear of liability.
Before you submit your contract to a client it is a good idea to consult an attorney. Lawyers will pick through the contract and advise you on how you are protected and other things you can add to increase this shield of protection or aspects of your contract that need to be removed.
If a client refuses to sign your contract do not work for them. There is a chance that the client may wish to revise the contract. If so, listen, but make sure you stay protected.
BIG Mike is a well known author, developer and Adsense expert as well as the owner of Niche Maniacs - a unique Adsense Marketing System designed to build long-term passive income streams from Adsense, YPN, Chitika and other PPC services.
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